Ironing machine



F. T. JOHNSON :IRONING MACHINE Feb. 10, 1931.

Filed May 17. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 10, 1931. JOHNSON 1,792,167

IRONING MACHINE Filed May 17. 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 N 1Q w fi 1 7252732507" fimzcaffakmswa Feb. 10, 1931. F. T. JOHNSON ,1 7

IRONING MACHINE Fiied May 17; 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet s Feb. 10, 1931. JQHNSQN 1,792,167

IRONING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1928 5 Shee ts-Sheet Int/6 72/2507" fiance '5 .ZZIOFNQSOZZ @IQ VLAM Feb. 10, 1931. F. T. JOHNSON 1,792,167

IRON ING MACHINE Filed May 17, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Atfo 778K695,

Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES FRANCIS 1. JOHNSON,

IRONING Application filed May 17,

My invention relates to a mangle or ironing machine and has for its general purpose the provision of such a machine which is adaptable for high speed and large quantity ironing. One object is the provision of such a machine which shall be safe and easy to operate. Another object is the provision of such a machine which shall be fast and efficient in operation. Another object is the provision of such a machine which shall iron a volume of work per unit of time larger than corresponding machines of like size now on the market. Another object is the provision of improved heating means for such a machine. The present application contains material described in my prior application No. 204,697, filed Jul 11, 1927, now abandoned. Other objects wi 1 appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claim.

2 I illustrate my invention more or less diaammatically in the accompanying draw- 7 1ngs, wherein Figure 1 is an end elevation with parts in section;

Figure 2 is a front elevation;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, illustrating one of the ironing machines i Figures 4 and 5 together form an end elevation of the opposite end of the device shown in Figure 1, on an enlarged scale.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings. Referring to the drawingsA indicates any suitable base which may be formed for example of channel iron. Mounted at one end or side thereof is any suitable elevation orsubbase A herein indicated as of channel iron.

Mounted on said sub-base A and also at the opposite end of the frame A are identical frame assemblies herein indicated as includ-- ing the upwardly and inwardly inclined structural members A which converge at the tops as at A to form a suitable support for the bearings below described. A indicates any suitable transverse bottom frame memher. One of the A frames thus constituted is positioned at each end of each of the individual mangles. the A frames being connected for example by the longitudinal rods PATENT OFFICE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS mcmnn 1928. Serial No. 278,426.

A A, of which'as many as necessary may be employed, although I illustrate four, as in Figure 3. 1

Mounted for rotation at the top of said A frame, as in the enlargement A is a cylindrical member B upon the outer end of which is mounted the hub B of the gear B It will be understood that the cylindrical member B projects inwardly a sufficient distance to support the hollow heated roll B, the details of the support of the heated roll forming of themselves no part of the present invention.

I provide,about the hollow heated roller B a plurality of supplemental pressure applying rollers B which may bemounted in any suitable bearing blocks B upon the bearing supports B pivoted to the frame generally above described. In order to drive such rollers I provide, at one end of each, 79 the pinions B which are indicated in Figure 1 as in mesh with the gear B I prefer to form such pinions with a progressively decreasing numler ofteeth, in order that, as will later be described in greater detail, the rolls rotated thereby may be rotated at slightly different speeds. I prefer to provide the pinion of the first roll B with the largest number of teeth, for example, re-

'ng to the left of Figure 1, twenty-five ferri teeth.

The next two may be of twenty-four teeth and the last two of twenty-three. Referring to the second mangle at-the right of Figure 1 I employ twenty-four teeth for the pinion 35 of the first roll B", twenty-three for the next two,and twenty-two for the last two.

In order to rotate the rolls I may pro vide any suitable prime mover but I here illustrate the motor C herein shown as having an outwardly extending motor shaft C upon which are a plurality of sprockets C C about which pass the sprocket chains C and C. respectively,

D indicates a 'A frame above the member C and providedwith a worm D in mesh with a worm gear D which in turn has associated with it a pinion D in mesh with the gear B The shaft D may be rotated either by the sprocket D,

driven shaft mounted on the I pins or studs on the sprockets D and D The shaft D of the first machine is fiexibl connected to a corresponding driven sha t D of the second machine by any suitable means. I illustrate however an intermediate driving rod D having a universal joint connection D interposed between itand the shaft D and a universal'joint connection D interposed between it and the shaft D Otherwise the drive of the second machine is identical with'the drive of the first.

Since the clutch is operative upon the shaft D a change of speed is simultaneously effected for both machines by the operation of the lever D .-..As shown in Figure 1, the clutch is in neutral. In order to heat the heated main rolls B I prefer to employ gas. I'illustrate a main gas inlet E from which extends a gasline E to the first machine and a gas line E to the second. E indicates a separate valve connection for the line IE itbeing understood that a similar valve connection is provided for the liner). Taking the line E as an example it extends to a mixpart of the present invention. E indicates an air line thereto to which air' may be sup-- plied under pressure as by the blower E which may be driven for example-by the belt E about the pulley E on the blower shaft from the It will beunderstood that a similar blower is provided in the second machine the two blowers being connected for example by a flexible hollow tube E which may be of rubber. In order to make such a connection practical and in order to maintain both blowers at the same general level above the floor Iprovide downturned bracket'members E on the first machine and upturned brackets ally indicated as E in Figure 2 which in turn is controlled by the lever E and the llhijnk E which terminates in a handle or ring It will be understood that by manipulation of the link E the valve E may be set to vary the proportion of air deliveredtt o the mixing chamber E. E indicates the mixture outlet which extends to a union E lever H on the shaft H. mg element E the-deta1ls of which form no P y O8 the motor Shaft -parted to a corresponding shaft H in connection with-the second machine, the foreends of the burner or burners-E which pene- I trate the interior ofthe roll. I may employ a single burner extending from end to end of. the roll or I may employ two separate burners penetrating opposite ends of the roll, but in any case I maintain a uniform supply of amixture of gas and air supplied to opposite ends of the heated roller.

G indicates a supplemental gas line extending as at G from the line E and being 1 provided with a control valve G Gr indicates a terminal pipe portion or jet whereby gas may be supplied for use as'a lighter or pilot light for lighting the mixture supplied to theburner.

I have not illustrated in great detail the mounting of the supplemental or pressure rolls B. It will be understood however that when the hearing or carrier members B" are at one limit of their excursion the rolls B 'are thrust against the opposed face of the heated roll 13*, whereas when they are at the opposite limit of their excursion they are withdrawn from the opposed surface of theheated roll B. .This rotation may be effected by the c'am member generally indicated as H, the bearing or supporting members B being each pivoted as at H to a fixed supporting member H and being provided with rollers H in engagement with the slots H in the rotary member H. The

vmember H has pivoted to it the link H the opposite end of which is pivoted to the short The shaft H" in turn has extending from it a lever, H upon the bottom of which is any suitable transverse foot engageablemember H". I

One such lever H is positioned at each end of the machine. i

The rotation of the shaft H may be imgoing being described in connection with the first machine, in the following manner. H

H are levers on the shaft H to which are secured links H 11 extending to similar.

levers or crank arms H upon the shaft H which corresponds with the shaft H and which effects a correspondmg adjustment or movement of the corresponding rolls of the second machine. It willbe understood that downward movement of the member H and consequent counter clockwise movement of thelever H", as shown in Figures 1 and 3, will bring the rolls B against the heated roll B In order to lim1t the downward movement of the lever H I may provide any suitable stop H as shown in Figures 1, 3

and 4.

In'order to withdraw the rolls B from the opposed heated roll B in other words,

'I, I, fixed to the rod I which is pivcted to the A frames. ,The outer ends of the levers I are connected by the longitudinal rod I which extends across the space between the frames A To the outer ends of the rod I are secured the flexible members I I which pass about fixed rollers or pulleys I I The opposite end of each flexible member I is pivoted as at I to the lever I on the shaft H. It will be understood that downward pressure applied to the rod I by the foot of the operator will serve upwardly to lift the lever I and thus to rotate the shaft H. in a direction opposite to that imparted to it by the exertion of downward pressure against the member or pedal H In order to feed the work tothe first mangle I provide a moving platform which'in-' eludes a'plurality of parallel but separate belts K. These belts K pass over a table K supported for example by the angle K They pass at their inner ends about the small roller or guide K and at their outer ends' about driving pulleys K mounted on the longitudinal shaft- K which in turn isrotated by the sprocket K about which passes the chain K to the sprocket K which in turn is driven by the gear K from thegear K associated with the first of the rollers 13*.

In order to receive the work delivered from the last of the rolls of the first mangle to the first of the rolls of the second mangle I provide the apron or conveyor belts L which passabout the rollers L and L L serves as the drive roller being driven through the sprocket L the chain L*, the sprocket L and the gear L from the gear L associated with the first of the rollers B of the second mangle.

In order to prevent accidents to operators 1- find it desirable to provide some automatic means for terminating the rotation of the moving parts in response to the approachof the hand of the operator to the rolls. I

therefore provide the transverse shaft M extending above and across the beltsK and having depending from it the levers M to'\ 7 B in h which are mounted transverse slats M It will be understood thatrotation of the shaft M in response to the contact of the hand ofthe operator with the transverse members M forces the contact arm M into contact with the push button M of the switch M It will be realized that whereas I have de-- scribed and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes might be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. -My drawings and description therefore are to be considered as illustrative only -rather than as definlng the of my invention, which are to be de the roll. In order to makesure that terminedfrom the scope ofthe appended claim. 1

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

I provide a pair of mangles with means for delivering the work to the first of said mangles and, from. the first of said mangles to the second. In order to maintainthe proper feed of material from mangle to mangle,

and in order to allow for thestretching or second pair of rolls is driven at a more rapid rate than those preceding them.. Also the a feeding apron L is driven at a more rapid travel than the initial feeding apron K, and

slightly faster than the last .of the rolls B of the first mangle. There is a similar progressive acceleration of the rolls of the second mangle, obtained by a variation in the number of gear teeth of the gears 13.

v In operating my device the foot pedal H is thrust into downward position, thus moving the rolls B into operative engagement with the heated roller B These rollsare preferably padded or, yieldingly formed. The work is fed to the moving apron K and passes beneath the first roll and across the terminal table K which delivers the work directly to the space between the first roll 13*.

and the main ,roll B in such. fashion that it is readily seized upon and conveyed through for the ironing .action. Since the belt K has a slightly'slower speed than the peripheral speed of the first roll B, it tends to hold the ing of. the work and a proper ironing action. The work passes about the rollB livered to a' feeding apro'n'L for conveyance to the second 'ma ngleg where the same operation is repeated;

piece of work through two mangle s a highly efli cient ironing action is obtained and,'since the work passes through two mangles, itis possibleto speed up the device very substantially and to run through a far larger volume of work, in

'th which will be understood to control the ciran (fan a given time be run through a single mangle. In order to obtain ajsatisfactory and eflicient heatin action of the "roll from end to end I provi e a fuel supplyffor each end of fuel-will be supplied to eachend .of-theroll ing chamber and also a valve for the gas work back slightly thus assuring the stretchalike and is de- *1 mix gasand air prior to the takingofig from. a single line or chamber of the mixture the endless conveyor exceeding the rate of supply. I am thus able to adjust the quantity of air and gas supplied and the proportion of air and gas. By employing a blower I obtain a constant pressure or delivery of fuel and an eflicient combustion.

I am able to employ a single source of power by employing duplicate driven shafts flexibly coupled, both of said shafts rotating in unison in response to the operative connection made between one of them and the motor. I also employ a connecting means whereby the roller controlling shafts of the two machines are moved in unison. Thus depression on the pedals H of the first machine moves the rolls B of both the first and the second machine into operative contact with the opposed heated roller B Similarly, downward pressure of the op rator applied to the transverse rod I lifts the rolls of both machines outwardly away from the heated roller.

Since but a single motor is employed the actuation of the switch button M will stop the movement of all the moving parts of both mangles.

It will be seen although I employ a duplex machine, with all the advantage of increased volume and more rapid and eflicient work, I nevertheless retain the advantages of single and ready control for both machines.

I claim: In a mangle, a main roll, a plurality of supplemental pressure applying rolls positioned thereabout, an endless conveyor adapted to deliver work between'said main and pressure applyin rolls, unitary means for driving said en less conveyor and said rolls and means for imparting to said rolls a peripheral rotary movement at a rate. increasing progressively from the point of entry of the work to the point of discharge of the work passing through said rolls, the peripheral rate of movement of the pressure applying roll next after the point of delivery of the. work from movement of the endless conveyor.-

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and State of Illinois, this 15th day of May, .1928.

FRANCIS T. J QHNSON.- 

